Foot Facts and Stats

Our feet are complicated structures. With every step, they strike the ground, support and distribute our weight, balance our bodies, and press off again to keep us moving forward. Each part, from heel to toe, plays a role. Despite their importance in our lives, the feet are among the most neglected parts of the body. It’s estimated that up to 75% of Americans will experience foot health problems at some point in their lives. Many of these conditions are caused by easily preventable sources, like bad shoes, and can be treated with conservative, noninvasive treatments.

Fun Facts

You find a full quarter of all the bones in your body in your feet—52 all together, or 26 bones per foot.

Your feet sweat up to half a pint of moisture a day.

Pressure on your feet when you run can be more than 3 to 4 times your body weight.

The average, healthy American should be taking from 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. By age 70, that would add up to walking four times around the globe.

Your feet actually say a lot about your general health—some serious conditions show symptoms there first.

The vast majority of people with foot problems were not born with them. The pain developed after years of wear and tear or an injury.

Common Concerns

Foot and ankle pain has many different culprits—injuries, biomechanical conditions, or diseases. Injuries are any damage that occurs from outside trauma. Biomechanical conditions can develop from bad shoes, tissue weakness, or bad habits that add extra pressure or stress to an area of the foot. Diseases can be caused by fungus, bacteria, viruses, or congenital abnormalities, just like anywhere else in the body.

Some of the most common problems Dr. Sanjay Patel sees and treats include:

Bunions

These boney prominences on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe are the result of bones coming out of alignment. The bulging joint can becoming swollen and irritated, making walking and wearing shoes very uncomfortable.

Heel Spurs

A common factor of heel pain, these small growths of bone develop under the heel where they can press into and strain the tendons.

Plantar Fasciitis

This is one of the most common culprits in heel pain. The large tendon on the bottom of the foot, the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed and aches, especially when you first try to take a step after being off your feet for a while.

Fungal Nails

Microscopic fungi in the environment can get under your nails and multiply rapidly if the conditions are right. This damages nail tissue, turning it brittle, thick, and discolored.

Ingrown Toenails

Other common conditions include hammertoe, neuromas, sesamoiditis, shin splints, and stress fractures.

If you’re experiencing any pain in your feet or ankles, know that it isn’t normal and you don’t have to put up with it. With a little care and treatment, you can eliminate your pain and restore your feet to health—and avoid complicated problems that could develop from ignoring an issue. Contact Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. in Connecticut for an appointment or more information today and take care of your feet. Visit the contact page on our website or call either of our two convenient office locations to reach us: (203) 876-7736 for the Milford office, or (203) 288-4055 for the Hamden location.